Oishii uses robotics to grow premium strawberries indoors in vertical farms. | Source: Oishii
Oishii Farm Corp. yesterday said it has brought in $150 million in Series C funding. The company offers an indoor smart farm model, which integrates robotics, automation, and advanced technology with centuries-old Japanese farming techniques.
Founded in 2017, Oishii develops and operates smart farms that integrate greenhouse cultivation and pollination with robotics and digital technologies. The Jersey City, N.J.-based company said it is currently focusing on growing pesticide-free, non-GMO strawberries, which it grows indoors year-round and harvests at peak ripeness.
SPARX Asset Management Co. led Oishii’s Series C round. Nomura Real Estate Development Co., MISUMI Group Inc., Mizuho Bank Ltd., and others also participated. The latest round brings the company’s total funding to date to $370 million.
“Since our Series A investment in 2019, we have continuously supported Oishii Farm’s growth,” stated Shuhei Abe, president and CEO of SPARX Asset Management. “It is truly inspiring to see the vision we shared at that time steadily becoming a reality, as the company advances seamlessly from research and development to proof of concept and commercialization.”
“One of the company’s key strengths lies in its exceptional execution capability, which has enabled rapid technological advancement,” he added. “As Oishii Farm enters a new phase with the establishment of its Open Innovation Center in Japan, we look forward to continuing to support its growth.”
With the first closing of Series C financing, Oishii said it plans to increase production capacity, advance robotics integration, expand farm infrastructure, and develop new product formats while continuing to invest in research and development across the U.S. and Japan.
Submit your session idea for the 2026 RoboBusinessAutomation helps Oishii produce strawberries at scale
While the vertical farming sector has cooled in recent years, Oishii has continued to gain momentum through a more focused approach to scale. The company said it uses robotics and automation, broader consumer access, and continued technology innovation to differentiate itself within the category.
Oishii has expanded its distribution across 18 states, launched in Toronto as its first international retail market, and introduced new retail formats and product offerings. Its Open Innovation Center in Tokyo advances its R&D capabilities.
The company credited robotics with enabling it to produce strawberries with greater consistency, precision, and quality control. Following its acquisition of Tortuga AgTech in last year, Oishii expanded those capabilities with additional harvesting robotics and engineering expertise.
Earlier this year, Oishii entered a strategic partnership with MISUMI to support its growing need for automation and component manufacturing.
Oishii broadens its consumer reach
Oishii has also expanded beyond its original ultra-premium positioning into a more flexible retail business with a broader consumer reach. Since launching the Omakase Berry at nearly $50 per tray in 2018, the company has added the Koyo Berry and Nikko Berry and introduced new pack sizes and retail formats designed for more everyday purchasing.
Its offerings today span $4.99 to $15. Oishii said its new Premium Preserves line extends the brand beyond fresh berries into an elevated range of pantry staples.
The Nikko Berry, introduced in 2025, has also become a strong proof point for how Oishii applies demand, retail, and production insight to product innovation. Earlier this year, the company introduced its innovative stay-fresh top-seal packaging for the Nikko Berry. This new approach to strawberry packaging focused on freshness, shelf life, and retail scalability while reducing plastic usage by 80% compared with traditional clamshell packaging.
“When we chose strawberries, we knew we were selecting one of the hardest paths in indoor farming,” said Hiroki Koga, co-founder and CEO of Oishii. “They require precision at every stage, from pollination and harvesting to freshness and shelf life, and there were moments along the way where solving one challenge revealed the next one underneath it. This funding marks a new phase for Oishii as we scale what we’ve built, with deeper confidence in the decisions we’ve made and the role we can play in bringing high-quality produce to more people.”
Tell Us What You Think!